Second prestigious commission for ambitious sculptor

A SCULPTOR who specialises in striking life-size figures has been awarded a second prestigious National Trust commission.

Ed Elliott, a former pupil of the Chase School, Malvern, will create a series of sculptures for an exhibition in the parkland of Hughenden Manor, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

The 28-year-old is using recycled wood from the estate to craft a series of figurative sentinels to pay homage to the Victorian mansion's role as a centre for mapping in World War Two as well as the once popular High Wycombe furniture trade.

Mr Elliott, who has a studio at Trumpet Corner near Ledbury, said: “I am honoured to have the chance to work with The National Trust again.

“It can be very hard being an artist but these recent opportunities are another sign that I am on the right path.”

He added: “Working figuratively is a direct way of me communicating with my audience. I think everyone regardless of background or language can understand or relate to something based on a figure. Sculpture is a language for me and I love it.”

Prior to this, Mr Elliott is staging the first exhibition on the ground floor of the Hive from Thursday, June 12 to Friday, July 18.

The joint university and public library will host a collection of the emerging artists’ recent sculptures, drawings as well as photographs of work in-situ.

Laura Worsfold, business development manager at the Hive, said: “It looks great and will be the first exhibition of it's kind at The Hive."

Mr Elliott, who is looking forward to exhibiting in the city where he was born for the first time, said: “An exhibition at the Hive is such a great opportunity to show my work to the people of Worcestershire.”

His previous National Trust commission, entitled Greer (the Mottisfont Angel), at the Mottisfont Estate in Hampshire was sold into a prestigious collection in Essex in 2012 to stand alongside works by Antony Gormley, Elisabeth Frink and Thomas Heatherwick.